by Ciara Litchfield
West Virginia University has recently partnered with the Center for Disease Control and Prevention in order to help promote healthy lifestyles in a state that isn’t so healthy compared to others.
The program, called Be Wild, Be Wonderful, Be Healthy, provides funding for 18 organizations in Clay and McDowell counties that increase access to healthy foods and encourages physical activity. The program leaves much of the planning up to the organizations in order for them to decide what serves their community best and what would be most effective in engaging the community.
The project coordinator for the program, Kerry Gabbert said that, “We look forward to seeing the unique ways community organizations in Clay and McDowell counties work to create opportunities for their residents to be more active and make healthier food choices. Each community has its own set of challenges, and our contractual partners have creative, strategic plans to move their communities forward and overcome some of those challenges.”
This program hopes to help reduce obesity rates in a state that currently leads the rest of the United States. Obesity in W.Va. adults stands at 39.5 percent, closely followed by Mississippi, according to a report released by the Trust for America’s Health.
In the counties where this program launched, there aren’t many options for healthy foods. In Clay County, the only grocery store has closed and in McDowell County the only Walmart has left.
Many rural West Virginians don’t live that close to fresh produce and are one of the states least likely to report exercising 3 times a week for at least 30 minutes.
Some factors that contribute to obesity include lack of regular activity and a healthy diet, genetics, illnesses and medication. Food insecurity is also a major contributor to obesity in West Virginia which means that they worry about having enough money to buy healthy meals. When people stress about money, many often chose low cost options such as fast food because they are easily accessible and low cost in comparison to fresh, healthy produce.
They encourage people to follow the program’s Instagram. Their posts provide followers with helpful tips to stay active and healthy recipes that are easy to follow.
Almost Heaven, Almost Hell 
There are many great links and images incorporated in this post. It really helps to show just what the organization is doing to implement more healthy practices in their communities. This is a very thorough and interesting read with the description of food insecurity and how West Virginia as a climate does not have too many options in terms of places to get produce or fresher sources of food. Really great job overall!
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This is such a great program, and that picture of the table of veggies makes me so happy. It makes me want to take advantage of my ability to have access to fresh produce more. Dr. Oppe also has an event thing called “Day of Play” with athletics that is right up the alley of this stuff. I enjoyed reading this article and learning that WV is doing something to make a change and help the state be healthier.
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Ciara,
It seems that most people are too quick to talk down on West Virginia, including about the high obesity rate of the state. However, many people never look deeper at the real issue about why the obesity rate is so high. It is not that West Virginians are lazy and want to eat unhealthy, but because of the lack of access that this post does a great job discussing. The information you added about the only grocery store closing in one county, and Walmart being the only grocery store left in another, shows how West Virginia is lacking when it comes to food access. This healthy lifestyle program is great for the state and I am sure that it will show some improvement in the areas that it serves! The example of a healthy recipe posted by the program’s Instagram page that you shared at the end of the post was a great note to leave readers with to really show the difference that the program is attempting to make moving forward!
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Ciara,
This was a great choice for a post. Your statistic of the percentage of people in WV that are obese is shocking to me. Although it’s only two counties, for now, hopefully, more counties can bring this program to their residents also and we can really see a change in the obesity of WV. Your sources and content included in the post itself were also very good. Great job on this.
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